Madison City Channel, the City's local government television station, announced that it will commemorate the 38th anniversary of "Earth Day" by replaying a presentation by former Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson. Nelson, the founder of "Earth Day," gave a talk to Downtown Madison Rotary on March 29, 2000. Madison City Channel will replay this presentation, which focused on issues of the environment and overpopulation, at 5:00 pm on Tuesday, April 22nd - "Earth Day" 2008.

Nelson's speech, entitled "The Perspective on Environmental Matters," was given as part of Downtown Madison Rotary's "Centennial Perspectives." Nelson spends the first part of the talk with an entertaining description of his attempts to launch the Earth Day concept.

Station Manager Brad Clark commented, "What better way to mark this year's 'Earth Day' celebration than by running this courageous and moving speech by the founder of 'Earth Day' himself. All Wisconsin residents can be proud of the legacy established by Senator Nelson, and we are re-running this speech as a reminder of his commitment to global environmental issues on the anniversary of the event he founded."

Madison City Channel has had a productive relationship with Downtown Madison Rotary for nearly a decade, regularly covering presentations of interest on local and national issues. Our coverage of Rotary presentations can be regularly seen on MCC-12, cable channel 12 on the Charter cable system, or via our website at www.mcc12.tv.

Gaylord Nelson served Wisconsin as Governor from 1958 to 1962 and as a United States Senator from 1963 to 1981. He died in 2005 at the age of 89.